Just for Kids
Here are a few ways you can learn more about the national forests and grasslands, and about the caretakers for these lands, the Forest Service!
Smokey Bear
Learn about fire prevention and safety with Smokey Bear!
Smokey Bear standing in forest
(USDA Forest Service)Our forests are very valuable. Smokey Bear's message "Only you can prevent wildfires" is just as important today as it was decades ago. Visit the Smokey Bear website and below to find wildland fire activities, prevention tips, Smokey's history and facts, and more!
Smokey Bear Coloring Pages:
Woodsy Owl
Lend a Hand - Care for the Land!
Woodsy Owl
(USDA Forest Service)Hello! I’m Woodsy Owl. Since 1971, Woody Owl has inspired kids to care of natural resources. Woodsy's familiar slogan was first "Give a hoot, don't pollute" but now Woodsy invites you to join him - "Lend a Hand, Care for the Land". Do you know what that means?
It means that if we all work together, the Earth will have clean air and water and will be a healthy place to live for trees and plants, fish, animals and birds like me! Oh, and it also means it will be clean for you, too! How will you help Woodsy take care of the forest or the city where you live? Check out more information on the Woodsy Owl website.
Woodsy Owl Activities:
Woodsy Owl Website
Every Kid Outdoors
Every Kid Outdoors is a nationwide program that encourages 4th graders to get outside and visit their federal public lands and waters by offering a free pass their entire 4th grade year.
This pass allows free admission at sites that charge entrance or standard amenity fees at over 2000 federal lands and waters for a full year beginning September 1 and ending August 31. It does not cover expanded fees so please inquire at the location you will be visiting for more information on pass acceptance. Call your local forest service office for exact details on how the pass applies to your adventure.
By participating in the Every Kid Outdoors Program, you can connect with nature and learn about your heritage while exploring millions of acres of federal lands and waters for free. Bring your family and friends to check out prehistoric dinosaur tracks, explore ancient sites, hike around a volcano or sit quietly and see what animals you observe in their natural habitat.
Each pass holder is eligible for a free Christmas tree permit on the Umatilla National Forest.
Natural Inquirer - STEM Cards
Six sets of Natural Inquirer STEM Cards
(USDA Forest Service)Natural Inquirer is a free science education journal written for middle through high school age students. In 1998, Natural Inquirer was created so that scientists could share their research with students. Each article follows the same format as a scientific journal article by including an Introduction, Methods, Findings, and Discussion section. Additionally, each article has a Meet the Scientist section, Thinking About Science section, Thinking About the Environment section, and a FACTivity. The FACTivity is a hands-on activity that reinforces a concept from the article. All articles are correlated to National Education Standards.
Collector Card Packs! Browse their ever-growing list of collector cards featuring a huge variety of careers in the Forest Service. Download and print collector cards and posters for free.
Browse the collector cards packs, such as Wildlife, Careers, Smokey Bear and more. Best part is they're free!